August 9, 2013

It’s Friday! Let’s finish up the week with an awesome property from that always hot market on the Peninsula, San Bruno! In fact this place is so on fire that nobody can get near it, and hasn’t for almost a year! Thanks very much to Burbed reader Facebooksux for today’s featured façade.

The exterior may look like a gingerbread house with the white picket fence and shutter trim on the outside windows, the front door opens to a most unique home. Everything is custom, a must see home. Huge master bedroom suite with high ceilings and and private spa bathroom. Formal dining room, family room, TV room with wet bar. Eat in kitchen with walk in pantry/laundry area. So much more to see.

The front page may look like a well-presented property, but there’s that datestamp in the lower right corner. Pro Tip: Unless you want your buyers to think you shot your listing photos with a disposable camera and dropped them off at Rite-Aid, turn off the danged stamps.

Let’s listen to Facebooksux’s nominating speech.

ALMOST A MILLION BERNANKE BUX FOR SAN BRUNO????!!!!

Hopefully there aren’t any leaky gas pipelines beneath the home.

Please use Facebooksux as my name instead of my real name and keep up the good work!!

You mean don’t mention that your real name is – ha ha, gotcha! Kind of like how this house will getcha too. We are positive these pillows are up to no good.

But even if they can be trusted, there are many dangerous plants that are lying in wait for you. Be very afraid.

This home has been decorated with such care, it must have been just as thoughtfully situated in its neighborhood, right? Here’s the delightful view from the front door.

August 7, 2013

We’ve been neglecting The Best City in The Most Special Place On The Planet! That’s right, we haven’t mentioned Mountain View in days! So while you’re waiting for more marvelous Mountain View, here’s a Palo Alto Property with Pride of Ownership instead. Thanks very much to Burbed reader Wendie for sending in this palace!

Sorry for putting in the same picture twice, but that MLSListings layout doesn’t lend itself well to showcasing the first picture. And for $2.9 million, you need a good look at this estate. But let’s check in with Wendie, who has a few things to share.

Crazy pricing in Palo Alto.

2.8 million!

For 2.8 million, is the house:

1) Big?…no 2) On a big piece of land?….not even. One of the smallest plots of land you can find! 3) On a quiet street? Nope 4) Turn-key for a single family? You wish! Expect construction costs in your future! 5) Situated on a lot with a private backyard? Aw shucks, no, you have an apartment building overlooking your teeny tiny yard! 6) New, stainless steel appliances? Not really. 7) Updated bathrooms? No way, Jose! 8) Great curb appeal? Negativo!

But, this could all be yours for a crazy $2.8 million smackaroos! $1,272 per square feet!

Wendie, great rant, but you seem to have missed the point. This house is in Palo Alto! All those things you’re complaining about simply don’t matter, because… this house is in Palo Alto! These are not problems, these are opportunities! F’rinstance, the seller is realizing an opportunity in putting the house up for sale for the batshit insane asking price of $2.875 million.

Here’s the link to Redfin, should you prefer their take on the house. Love the natural corrugated décor above.

July 10, 2013

There is nothing wrong with ANY listing that price cannot fix. Remember that next time you find a place full of Burbed win and wonder just how the seller will unload it. Let’s take a look at a property that’s been on the market for so long, when it was listed Bush was still President.

Started at $860.5K ! And it comes with a teardown ( there’s a fee for that). Check out home prices in Windsor….

Okay, let’s check out home prices in Windsor. There’s only two for sale, and they’re both right around this price. For the same money you can get a livable house on not that much land (5-6000 sf). Obviously nobody cares about the house and everyone cares about having lots and lots of space. You can always drag a teardown over from the neighbor’s lot.

But seriously, 2,612 days on Redfin? Which brings us to the next question, we know Redfin is seven years old, because so is Burbed. So, do there exist listings that have been on the market longer than Redfin has been around?

June 11, 2012

Friday’s featured find on Waverley escalated the eager entries in its comment thread, so let’s continue our pursuit of Palo Alto property with another home on the same superb street. Thanks very much to Burbed reader Wendie for these proactively priced premises.

Also, we’re feeling a bit miffed at Redfin for not linking back to us for several weeks, so we’ll use the site Wendie provided instead. Here’s the Redfin link if you prefer their entry, which confirms the price per square foot.

An Exceptional, One-time Opportunity To Own An Extremely Rare, Immense 26,344 sq ft lot (buyer to verify) in the Old Palo Alto Legendary Locale. On the corner of Santa Rita Ave & Waverley St, this dream building site is located in the prime, heart of Old PA. This premiere flat 0.6 acre lot also includes the existing 2,651 sq ft, 5BR/4BA home built in 1929.

Here’s a glimpse from the side, courtesy of Larry’s fleet of mobile spycams. This is a better look at any of the structures than you’ll see on the actual listing. Then again, can one actually price a home too highly in Palo Alto? It’s been on the market for 37 days and counting, so place your bets!

May 23, 2012

Thanks very much to Burbed reader Wendie for this palatial pad in Palo Alto! And unlike almost every other property in Palo Alto, this one’s still for sale despite this my sitting on it since April. Remember, there is nothing wrong with any house that price cannot fix. And by those standards, this house is definitely a fixer.

For a 9M dollar house, couldn’t they have AT LEAST upgraded the kitchen counter tops? Amazingly crappy kitchen for 9M!No, no, no, Wendie, this is an amazing vintage kitchen for 9M! After all, this is Palo Alto. What would be a problem in any other listing just automagically converts that bug into a feature. Weird countertops? More awesomeness.

And talk about convenience! Look where this house is located!

Right next to East Palo Alto! This home is guaranteed to be the very first place those delightful scamps will visit for a few good-natured pranks when hijinks ensue!

Who says Palo Alto is free of McMansions? I had given up the dream of spending less than $700/sq ft in Palo Alto, but this Spec House misadventure proves it saves to buy in bulk. Plus it has a totally classy fountain burbling in the front yard.

This listing caught my eye because I noticed they have a flyer sign out on Colorado Ave that actually lights up at night, so I looked up the Redfin knowing it would be full of win.

Wait… spec house misadventure? How can anyone have a misadventure when they’ve lit your way there? Although the price history may tell us a thing or two.

And here we thought the misadventure was the .60 FAR or the 11 HDR. So let’s help this poor spec house. What is keeping it from generating dozens of overbids?

Bunus: Mawbul kawlums are rectangular! Break out the red arrows!

Update 10:41 am: Two more kawlums lurking on the right of this picture, noted by Burbed reader SEA. Mawr red arrows, please!

We don’t know why this agent’s email got caught in a time warp where it didn’t show up until yesterday, but we can only assume it was sent to Burbed because they want the property featured again. The least we could do is oblige them. Quickly. Click on through to see how the place is being marketed now.

February 28, 2012

Silicon Valley may seem like the the only economic engine driving California in 2012, but let’s not forget there’s other places to live in the Bay Area. Many of the high-paying jobs in San Francisco are in the same industry as those 50 miles south, which means many of you could consider living in a real city.

Yet downtown SF and environs is everything that Santa Clara County is not: hip, cool, exciting and not a front lawn to be seen for miles. Thanks very much to Burbed reader Petsmart Groomer for this eye-popping penthouse in SoMa.

Feel the WOW! factor as you step into this dazzling Philippe Starck-style top floor corner penthouse with super-luxury finishes throughout and sensational views from City Hall to the Downtown Skyline and Bay!Fantastic location close to Twitter, Zynga, Google and other red-hot technology companies in SOMA’s booming, world-famous technology center- AND close to Opera House and Davies Symphony Hall. 2 parking/ EXTRA high ceilings/$800K+ (per owner) custom designer finishes/high-end built-in audio-visual systems/motorized shades/stainless VIKING gas stove, refrigerator and wine fridge/Bosch dishwasher/Studio Becker kitchen and MORE!Full service building with fabulous Club Room, outdoor plaza with firepit, gym, 24-hr security & concierge-a MUST SEE!

Here’s what motivated Petsmart Groomer to share this place with the greater Burbed community:

What cracked me up… "$800K+ (per owner) custom designer finishes" Bought 2 years ago for $1,145,000, on the market now for $2M.

Plus a firepit. I’m feeling that WOW! factor already. I thought you had to buy in Sunnyvale to get one of those.

And, you also get 2 parking with EXTRA high ceilings. That’s for buyers who absolutely must garage their London double-decker busses.

But those $800K+ (per owner) customer designer finishes mean this 1,613 sf condo (per county records) should be worth at least $8K more than as originally furnished. Good luck with that wishing price.

The best example of the WOW! factor? $851.38 monthly homeowners dues. You’ll feel the WOW! every time you write that check along with the mortgage. Buy with Redfin and save $22,478.

December 8, 2011

We’ve been having such a whirlwind tour of the Bay Area that we forgot about one of our favorite places! And just because the seller took this sky-high priced listing off the market doesn’t mean you shouldn’t consider it. Anyone could contact the agent with the right price to make this sale happen. Remember, it only takes ONE buyer. One really misinformed buyer.

Thanks very much to Burbed reader Wendie for this eye-popping palace in Palo Alto!

Here’s what Wendie had to say about this big lot with location, location, location!

2.4 for an Eichler.

For 2.4 million, you can have your own carport AND hear the travel up and down University! And boy, does this glorified Eichler have some curb appeal!! Look at that driveway, circa 1957.

So much curb appeal the agent didn’t dare put the front of the house as the first listing photo. Potential buyers might expire on the spot from the awesomeness of this place with an opening like that. Execellent!

But Burbed has you covered! All FOUR of the pictures of this 3100 square foot house are here for your viewing pleasure (two inside, two out!), just in case the MLS copy and pix get yanked.

“Bunus”: it’s NOT in a Special Flood Zone, which is a real shame. For this kind of money, everything about the house ought to be Special.

December 2, 2011

Let’s visit Millbrae again, because it needs some Burbed love. Simply mentioning it in passing because its zip code was the 366th most expensive in the county will not do for keeping Millbrae in our sights.

Fortunately, Burbed Reader Paul has found us a wonderful wishing price washout, showing what happens when sellers expect a particular price and the market fails to comply. Thanks very much, Paul!

Sophisticated living in the heart of Millbrae. Built in 2009, this Garden Level 2br/2ba condo offers approx 1147 sqft of living space. The gourmet kitchen is decked out with beautiful granite counter tops and backsplashes and a myriad of energy-efficient features. The interior is spacious and full of light. Common areas include multiple landscaped courtyards, a spa, barbeque area, & gym.

When Paul first sent this listing in, the asking price was $628,000, so after a month, with great trepidation, the sellers decided to cut the price all the way to… $615,000. This did not lead to a packed Open House, flyers going through windows, and overbidding bringing offering prices right where they need to be. So our dauntless sellers, guided by their brilliant and knowledgeable agent, took another deep (2.5%) price cut to the bone! $599K!

Here’s how Paul described it:

Hey, the folks just down the street at 151 El Caminoare selling new units in the $600s—we should get AT LEAST as much! Just because we bought near the market peak doesn’t mean we can’t walk with $100k of profit today! And besides, we have 2 parking spaces to their 1 (which you’ll need because it’s too far to walk to BART).

I chatted with the agent and he confirmed that the sellers were pretty clear on the price they wanted to list at… best of luck to them. Maybe they find a willing victim in the low $500s?

Paul should have mentioned that the $525,000 sale was in 2009. Everyone knows that was a market low, and it’s completely reasonable to expect a $100K $74K profit from the year the credit dried up.

Also I really like this picture of the kitchen, with the mid-oughties trifecta of granite, stainless, and hardwood (or at least Pergo).

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The posts on this weblog are provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confer no rights. The opinions expressed herein are my own personal opinions and only represent the view of Burbed.com's editor. Comments are the views of commenters, not Burbed. If companies, properties, etc are mentioned on this blog, you should assume that I have a financial stake in them. Trust no one.